Never say there’s no time or way to have a family vacation. You can always plan a staycation where you still get to have time off from work and school and enjoy each other’s company doing fun activities. View it as a great opportunity to bond and create new memories with your loved ones.
You should treat it like you would if you were leaving town. Plan, prepare and get excited the same way you do for trips to destinations away from home. There’s as much opportunity to have a good time doing a staycation as there is when you leave to go somewhere on an airplane.
Gather Input from Everyone
Your staycation is going to be that much better if everyone feels like part of the planning process and has a say in what you do. Have a family meeting to sit down and discuss what you have in mind and share any other ideas people want to express. Don’t be afraid to assign responsibilities to family members so everyone is involved and feels like they’re helping to make it a great time for the group.
Mix it up
You don’t have to think of a staycation as one event or activity. Block off a longer period of time so you have a few days or a week to spend together having fun. Pick one day to sightsee around your city, go swimming and eat at a hotel another and camp in your backyard for a few of the final nights you have together. Your time off will be more exciting and feel like a vacation if you’re all busy doing fun activities and not sitting around waiting for the next event to occur.
Get Organized
You should plan to be organized for a staycation like you would any other vacation. Know what the weather’s going to be like, plan meals ahead of time and get the backyard ready for the camping part of your staycation. This includes taking care of the lawn. Get tips from my gardening network regarding what tools and equipment you’ll need to maintain a healthy yard. These are the sorts of tasks you should outline ahead of time and plan to complete before your staycation begins. The more organized you are, the more relaxed and laid back you can be during your time off.
Record Lessons Learned
When it’s all done and you’ve had the time of your life, you should take time to sit down and talk about what went well and what didn’t. Get everyone’s opinion and tips they have for making it even better next time. This is the only way to get insight into what’s worth repeating and the parts of the staycation you can live without going forward. Do this right away while the information is fresh in your head.
Conclusion
A successful staycation is possible with these recommendations. Have a positive attitude about it and get everyone involved with carrying through on the plan. Work hard ahead of time so you can unwind and enjoy once your vacation rolls around.
